Home‑Hospital Hybridity: The Rise of Speedoc in Singapore
Whoever said medical care has to mean a protracted foot‑race through the A &E line now has a new hero – Speedoc. It’s like a fitness app for your veins, but instead of counting steps, it brings physicians straight to your living room.
What Speedoc Does
- House‑call doctors & nurses – no need to brave the waiting‑room.
- Emergency ambulances – kept on standby if the walk‑in stops working.
- Medication deliveries – your prescribed pills arrive faster than a delivery drone.
- Telemedicine – chat with a doctor from your sofa via app when the cure is just a video call away.
Born From a Vision
Speedoc was launched in 2017 by Dr Shravan Verma and Serene Cai. Serene, now the Head of Partnerships and Projects, says the goal was simple: bring care to people the clinic or ER never quite reached.
“We saw a bunch of patients in the A &E who didn’t actually need emergency care,” she explains. “They just didn’t want to leave their houses or find hospitals too far. Speedoc’s about making healthcare a stay‑at‑home thing.”
The Growth Story
Since its start:
- Seven full‑time doctors now on the roster.
- Around 50 on‑call locums ready to answer the call.
- From 5 patients a month to 30 a day hit during the pandemic.
- Nearly 50,000 active users keep the “doctor on my doorstep” spirit thriving.
Serene admits it wasn’t always smooth sailing, but the recent surge in digital health adoption turned Speedoc into a community staple. Whether it’s a sore tooth or a quick check‑up, the app now feels like the next-gen “health on demand” service.
Takeaway
In a city that never stops hustling, Speedoc is cataloguing a new way to keep health in the comfort of your own home. The next time you’re itching to consult a doctor, remember that you might just be a tap away from a medical professional right in your living room—no marquee line, just a very useful app and a little bit of tech.
Teething issues
SpeedoC: The Ad-Geek Who Became a Doctor’s On‑Demand Sidekick
Picture this: two friends, one in advertising, the other in healthcare, ditching their 9‑to‑5 gigs to fight the “invisible” enemy of slow doctor appointments. That’s the birth story of SpeedoC—an on‑demand app that turned the idea of getting a docs 15‑minute away into a real‑time, no‑fuss reality.
Started From Scratch (and No Syringes)
When SpeedoC first hit the ground, it was just the duo, a bicycle, a laptop, and a whole lot of ambition. They handled everything: from patient care to investor pitches, marketing to bookkeeping. Talk about a hustle‑fest.
“It was a crazy, all‑in‑one role game,” says Serene, the ad‑savvy founder who had never even seen a syringe until she had to. “I had to learn medical jargon, what equipment does, and yes—how to use a syringe!”
Breaking Every “Baby Steps” Barrier
- Industry skepticism: People laughed when a marketing whiz tried to start a health startup. The quote “you’re not a doctor, you can’t replace one” flew around.
- Gender challenges: “Being a woman in a male‑dominated leadership space felt like a one‑girl army,” Serene shares. “You need a lot of grit to stand in the boardroom.”
- Cash flow chaos: Startup cash flow is like a roller coaster—every day brings a new loop. In medical startups, those loops can be life‑or‑death, juggling staff burnout and emergency cases.
What It Took to Keep the Wheels Turning
SpeedoC didn’t just survive; it thrived by blending a polished marketing approach with genuine medical care. The team manages:
- Patient triage and quick referrals.
- Investor relations—because even doctors love a good pitch.
- Hiring and staff morale—making sure nobody gets too stressed by “the patients drama.”
- Finance and accounting—because every digital medical bill counts.
The Big Takeaway
From advertising suites to operating rooms, the founders proved that dedication can cross industry borders—and that it takes a bit of humor, a lot of learning, and a sprinkle of gumption to turn a simple vision into a local healthcare revolution.
A growing demand for mobile medicine
How Covid‑19 Gave Digital Health a Turbo Boost
Serene’s Take: Digital Medicine Is the New Normal
Serene, a front‑line doctor, argues that the pandemic forced people to rethink how they get medical care. “We’re now all about keeping distance, so digital health suddenly feels like the future, and it’s arrived in a flash of two‑to‑three years,” she says.
She points out that the era of the “big hospital” is being replaced by mobile and virtual clinics. And the biggest shift? Speedoc doctors are now steering anyone with mild flu‑like symptoms straight to a “Swab and Send Home” (SASH) clinic, saving time and reducing crowding.
What It Looks Like Inside the Dorms
- During the early outbreak, Serene and Dr. Shravan were among the first to step into foreign worker dormitories.
- They screened for respiratory illness on behalf of the Ministry of Health.
- Many workers had flu‑like symptoms and fevers—most likely Covid‑positive.
- A particular case stuck with Serene: a worker, same age as her younger brother, had been coughing for weeks and chest pains.
The Human Moment that Changed a Career
“Seeing that worker alone and ill, struggling to talk in a language he didn’t fully grasp, was a shock. I realized the real weight of my job. I felt I’d chosen the right path—no doubts left,” Serene reflected.
Why This Matters Now
Patients who are physically stable but have flu‑like signs are now directed to SASH clinics, easing the burden on hospitals. The result? A faster, cleaner, and far less contact‑heavy method of dealing with everyday symptoms.
Serene’s story isn’t just about medicine—it’s a reminder of how personal encounters can shape our biggest professional choices.
One woman, many hats
Serene’s Multi‑Faceted Mission
Power Player on the Boards
- Speedoc – CEO & Visionary
- Vice‑President of the Singapore Sharing‑Economy Association
- Active member of the Young Women’s Leadership Connection
In the Young Women’s Leadership Connection, she co‑crafted a six‑month mentorship program with ITE College Central and the International Women’s Forum (SG) to lift up girls who might otherwise miss a chance to shine.
Champion of Women’s Health
Serene launched The Well Woman Initiative, a vibrant social‑media community. Here, members talk freely about conditions that disproportionately affect women—think PCOS, endometriosis, the complaining hormones of life, and more. It’s all about honest chats, no judgment, just solidarity.
Never‑Satisfaction – Always‑Evolving
Even with all the accolades, Serene keeps on sharpening herself. She says she wants to blend the energy of Taylor Swift, the grace of Michelle Obama, and the kindness of Jacinda Ardern into one unstoppable force. She’s making the “be‑better‑every‑day” mantra real, not just a feel‑good line.
Her story, first shared by Her World Online, reminds us that ambition can be wrapped in a dash of humility, a pinch of humor, and a whole lot of heart.
